The GROUP Visit

I have a group of friends whom I have known, since the 70's while I lived in Boone, IA. We have remained friends all these years and make annual visits about 2 or 3 times a year. These friends are like family and are very special to me. Our get togethers are full of eating, laughing, shopping, antiquing (but not this year) and just connecting with each other in whatever ways we decide. Sometimes that's just visiting around a table or around a room sharing our lives with one another. It's great therapy too. These visits are highlights of every year.

- Marilyn is a retired music teacher who still lives in Boone.
- Pat is a retired special ed teacher who worked for DODS (Dept. of Defense Schools in Japan and Germany) and now lives in Boone again.
- Chris is a retired school counselor who lives in Mason City, IA
- Polly is a retired teacher of many levels and disciplines and lives in Fondu Lac, WI
- Gina is still a teacher (former principal) living in Humbolt, SD
- and I too am a retired teacher living here in Sioux Center, IA but trying to be a snowbird too.

This year we decided to come here for our summer visit. I haven't hosted for a while and had forgotten all the work it takes to be a host. I have a better understanding of all the work that my friends have done as hosts in the past. But I think we all agree, it's all worth it. Thank you to everyone for all your efforts to make our visits so much fun and so meaningful.

The first day, when everyone arrived, I had to make sure to provide hors d'oeurves. I had them ready. You have to do that. Then after a nice visit, getting all caught up on things, we sat down to a chicken dinner. And for dessert we had a special treat. Gina brought one of her famous cheesecakes, a raspberry chocolate one. MMMMmmmm Good! Thank you, Gina. Also thank you for the decorations. (celebrating someone's 60th birthday/s.)



The first moringing I made our traditional biscuits and gravy. No picture. We don't really do that as often any more because, as we get older, wiser, and more mature, we try to make better food choices. But I had some making up to do so I went all out and made the biscuits and gravy.

Then we left for our day's adventures. We drove to Sioux Falls to visit a Japanese garden. Unfortunately I did not have my camera, and I don't have pictures, but someone does. It was beautiful and peaceful there.

From there we went to EROS center just east of Sioux Falls. This is a very interesting place where they download and store images of Earth from the Landsat Satellite. The images are available for all to use on line for whatever purpose including just plain art work. Here you see some banners made with some of the beautiful images, some made with infrared or other forms of imaging.

From EROS we went to Falls Park to enjoy the water fall on the Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls. There's also a very nice cafe where we ate a delicious meal and had some delightful ice cream.

We also went up the Tower at the park to get a good view of everything. Then we took the free trolley car ride, with its recorded narrative, around the town of Sioux Falls. In the picture below, the cafe is to Polly's right, and the falls are to her left.

Gina even found a piano to play at Falls Park.

We could have gone to the Washington Pavilion or gone to a water skiing show for the evening, but I guess we all wanted to go back to the house and rest and relax so we did. After a few Marquaritas, gin and tonics, and lots of visiting, we called it a day.

The next day for breakfast, we had Cheese Blintzes, one of my favorites especially when I go to Village Inn. (not a commercial for them.) Today was a day of visiting local sites and doing some shopping, especially since it was tax free weekend for IA. On this day we could buy clothing with no tax. So we did. We started at an outlet store for an advertising company in Orange City. You can get some really good deals on clothing and other little items. You just have to be able to overlook advertising logos on the merchandise. Some jackets are only $2. Everything is very good quality and very inexpensive. We left a lot of money there. Here we are with our great purchases.

From there we went to the Ice Cream Capital of the World, Le Mars, where we visited the Wells Blue Bunny Museum and ate some great ice cream at their neat ice cream parlor. At the adjacent wine store, Chris bought 2 cases of some special kind of wine that some other friends of hers really like. It was on sale, and we didn't drink any of it. Here we are eating ice cream except for Pat. She was strong and resisted. Wow!!!!

Do we look like partners in crime or what?





Next we headed back to Sioux Center to do some more shopping at a local dress store. Almost everyone found something they couldn't live without. No pictures.

For the evening activity we all went to see the movie, "Julie and Julia" with Meryl Streep. Again she is brilliant in her performance of Julie Child. We loved the movie and we even tried to do imitations of Julia ourselves. Fun movie.

For breakfast the next morning, we had omelets in a bag. You put two eggs in a freezer bag and add whatever ingredients you want. Then you boil the bag in a pan of boiling water. Everyone can have their choice of an individually created omelet. It was mostly a succes with some flaws, but as Julia Child would say, "If you have a problem, just deal with it, and eat it anyway." or something like that.

Then we said good-bye to Gina who had to leave and go buy a car, a Sebring with a sun roof. Not bad. She did miss out on some very interesting sites and a great place to eat.

We drove to Sioux City this time. First we went to Trinity Heights, a site where there used to be a Catholic school, but now it's a beautiful garden and outdoor cathedral.

Trinity Heights is also home to an impressive, life sized, wooden structure of "The Last Supper."

From there we went to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center along the Missouri River. It's a very interesting museum, free of charge, where it tells the "journal" story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. No pictures.

Then we went "next door" to the Welcome Center which is a boat on the land which was a river boat for traveling. Pat and Chris decided to wait outside while Polly, Marilyn, and I went in to see the boat "museum."

From here we ended our tour at a unique restaurant on the Missouri River, Bev's on the River. We had good food, excellent views, and the best company. It is one of my favorite places to eat in Sioux City.








On our way back to Sioux Center, we did have to stop in at the ice cream shoppe in Le Mars for one more taste of their great ice cream. You can get flavors there that you can't buy in the store.

One tradition we've had for years is presenting "giftos" to each other. This year we didn't do too much, but other years it has been fun to find out what the "giftos" are. Sometimes they are souvenirs from travels, or sometimes they are practical gifts like a wall paper steamer. This year to commemorate my travels to Mexico and Texas, I gave "giftos" of Mexican blankets. Here we are with our blankets. Ole!!

Next morning we said good-bye. Here they are packing up the van to return home. Good-bye great friends. Until we meet again.